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Carney: Obama focused on security during shutdown

White House spokesman Jay Carney conceded there were "bad impacts" to the government shutdown and would not explicitly rule out that American security had been jeopardized by the shutdown.

"Every agency has provided information, as I understand it, about what happens with a shutdown, and I would refer you to each agency and, again, for those agencies to make assessments about what the immediate effects of shutdown are," Carney said. "You know, I don't have any more information on that than certainly the director provided."

Clapper told the Senate Judiciary Committee that the shutdown "affects our capability to support the military, diplomacy and our policy makers."

He added that the government closure "is a dreamland for foreign intelligence to recruit, especially as our employees, already subject to furloughs driven by sequestration, will have even greater financial challenges."

Clapper added that seven in 10 intelligence employees are furloughed, and only those workers "necessary to protect against imminent threat to life and property" remained on the job. He also warned that morale could be affected at the nation's intelligence agencies.

At the White House, Carney said that any potential consequences of the shutdown could be averted if Congress passed budget legislation.